Introduction to Paul O'Grady

Book excerpt: Paul O'Grady is a comedian, actor, and television presenter from Birkenhead, England. He is best known for his drag queen character, Lily Savage, which he created in the early 1980s and performed in clubs and cabarets across the UK. The character became a household name in the 1990s, appearing on TV shows such as "The Big Breakfast" and "Blankety Blank." O'Grady later retired Lily Savage and went on to host his own talk show, "The Paul O'Grady Show," which aired on ITV from 2004 to 2009. In addition to his comedy and presenting work, O'Grady has acted in various TV dramas, including "The Bill" and "Holby City," and has appeared as a contestant on reality shows such as "Celebrity Big Brother" and "Strictly Come Dancing." He has also written several books, including his autobiographies "At My Mother's Knee..." and "Open the Cage, Murphy!" which document his upbringing and the early years of his career. O'Grady has been a vocal supporter of various charities and causes, including Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and LGBTQ+ rights.